The spokesperson of the US State Department, Matthew Miller, stated that recognizing the Taliban is not feasible, citing the group’s behavior towards Afghanistan citizens and ongoing human rights violations.
Miller made these remarks following a two-day meeting between US representatives, Thomas West and Rina Amiri, and a Taliban delegation headed by their foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.
“I am not going to stand here and say what the conditions are. As we have said in the past, the Taliban continues to seek recognition, seeking legitimacy, and that’s not where we are right now for a number of reasons, including the treatment of their own people, including their many flagrant human rights violations,” Miller emphasized.
Post the Doha meetings, Muttaqi of the Taliban, in an interview with Al Jazeera, characterized the talks as positive, underscoring that the US respects their sovereignty. However, the issue of American prisoners in Taliban custody remains unresolved.
“We want to solve the issue of foreign prisoners in Afghanistan in such a way that all parties are satisfied,” Muttaqi asserted.
While the Taliban appears content with the results of the Doha meeting, critics maintain that such talks have yet to positively impact Afghan citizens.
“We hope that the US will put aside its two-sided policies and think of an alternative government for the Taliban,” said Maryam Marouf Arvin, a women’s rights activist.
Previously, the US and the United Nations officials engaged in meetings with the Taliban. Despite these engagements, Afghan citizens remain concerned that repressive orders against women have not abated. Day by day, the freedoms and rights of Afghan citizens, especially women, have reportedly diminished under the Taliban’s rule.
